Published: Friday, August 8, 2014 at 04:33 PM.

No more digging for lunch money for the parents of some 10,500 students in Gaston County public schools.

Students in 21 of the system’s 56 schools can eat breakfast and lunch free for the next four years, a measure paid for by a federal program meant to ensure children don’t go hungry.

Even if families don’t qualify for free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch, the students can now get both meals for free.

Parents who pay full price for breakfast and lunch meals could save about $670 per school year, per child.

The eligible middle and elementary schools are in what the government classifies as a low-income area. The free lunch program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service.

The USDA commitment covers four years. Frank Fields, director of school nutrition with Gaston County Schools, said he hasn’t been told whether free meals will continue after that.

The 21 schools are eligible because at least 62.5 percent of their students already qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, he said.

Last year in the schools affected, an average of 40 percent of students ate breakfast and 80 percent ate lunch, he said.

The school system aims to increase that. The goals are to serve lunch to 90 percent of students and breakfast to 50 to 60 percent.

“I do think it’s worth it,” Fields said. “I think it brings federal funds back to a local level for the benefit of our students and their families.”

School officials said another benefit of the program is eliminating the stigma associated with receiving free or reduced-price school meals.

Superintendent Jeff Booker said in a statement that hunger can interfere with a child’s ability to learn and achieve.

“We believe this program will lead to improved student attendance and academic success.”

You can reach Wade Allen at 704-869-1828 or www.twitter.com/GazetteWade.

All students attending these schools will receive free breakfast and lunch through the next four school years:

H.H. Beam Elementary

Bessemer City Central Elementary

Bessemer City Middle

Bessemer City Primary

Brookside Elementary

Carr Elementary

Chapel Grove Elementary

Forest Heights Elementary

Gardner Park Elementary

Grier Middle

Lingerfeldt Elementary

North Belmont Elementary

Pleasant Ridge Elementary

Rhyne Elementary

Sadler Elementary

Southwest Middle

Springfield Elementary

Tryon Elementary

Warlick Academy

Woodhill Elementary

York Chester Middle

How it works:

Gaston County Schools will order and serve the food, keeping track of each meal consumed.

At the end of each month, the school system sends a claim to the United States Department of Agriculture through the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.

Within a week, the USDA reimburses the school system for the cost of the meals, said Frank Fields, director of school nutrition with Gaston County Schools.

For the 2014-15 school year, Gaston County Schools will be reimbursed $3.06 for each lunch served at the schools and $1.93 for each breakfast.

If 100 percent of students at the schools eat breakfast and lunch, it would cost taxpayers more than $9 million for the school year.

The federal government already reimburses schools for a portion of each lunch they sell, meaning parents who pay for lunch actually pay less than the lunch costs, school officials say.

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No more digging for lunch money for the parents of some 10,500 students in Gaston County public schools.

Students in 21 of the system’s 56 schools can eat breakfast and lunch free for the next four years, a measure paid for by a federal program meant to ensure children don’t go hungry.

Even if families don’t qualify for free or reduced-price breakfast and lunch, the students can now get both meals for free.

Parents who pay full price for breakfast and lunch meals could save about $670 per school year, per child.

The eligible middle and elementary schools are in what the government classifies as a low-income area. The free lunch program is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Agriculture’s Food and Nutrition Service.

The USDA commitment covers four years. Frank Fields, director of school nutrition with Gaston County Schools, said he hasn’t been told whether free meals will continue after that.

The 21 schools are eligible because at least 62.5 percent of their students already qualify for free or reduced-price lunch, he said.

Last year in the schools affected, an average of 40 percent of students ate breakfast and 80 percent ate lunch, he said.

The school system aims to increase that. The goals are to serve lunch to 90 percent of students and breakfast to 50 to 60 percent.

“I do think it’s worth it,” Fields said. “I think it brings federal funds back to a local level for the benefit of our students and their families.”

School officials said another benefit of the program is eliminating the stigma associated with receiving free or reduced-price school meals.

Superintendent Jeff Booker said in a statement that hunger can interfere with a child’s ability to learn and achieve.

“We believe this program will lead to improved student attendance and academic success.”

You can reach Wade Allen at 704-869-1828 or www.twitter.com/GazetteWade.

All students attending these schools will receive free breakfast and lunch through the next four school years:

H.H. Beam Elementary

Bessemer City Central Elementary

Bessemer City Middle

Bessemer City Primary

Brookside Elementary

Carr Elementary

Chapel Grove Elementary

Forest Heights Elementary

Gardner Park Elementary

Grier Middle

Lingerfeldt Elementary

North Belmont Elementary

Pleasant Ridge Elementary

Rhyne Elementary

Sadler Elementary

Southwest Middle

Springfield Elementary

Tryon Elementary

Warlick Academy

Woodhill Elementary

York Chester Middle

How it works:

Gaston County Schools will order and serve the food, keeping track of each meal consumed.

At the end of each month, the school system sends a claim to the United States Department of Agriculture through the N.C. Department of Public Instruction.

Within a week, the USDA reimburses the school system for the cost of the meals, said Frank Fields, director of school nutrition with Gaston County Schools.

For the 2014-15 school year, Gaston County Schools will be reimbursed $3.06 for each lunch served at the schools and $1.93 for each breakfast.

If 100 percent of students at the schools eat breakfast and lunch, it would cost taxpayers more than $9 million for the school year.

The federal government already reimburses schools for a portion of each lunch they sell, meaning parents who pay for lunch actually pay less than the lunch costs, school officials say.